Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community, 

It’s a great time to be a student at Twin Cities German Immersion school. Middle school students have their first school dance this Friday (costumes encouraged!), the PTO is offering their annual Trick or Treating event for the community this Saturday, and next Tuesday will be our TCGIS costume parade. Parents are invited to that parade to join in the fun. Student engagement in their school community leads to better attendance, stronger academic achievement and a more positive attitude toward learning. A sincere thanks to all the parents and family members who are helping support these events.  

It’s also a great time to be a community member at Twin Cities German Immersion School. The Wellness Committee met last night to do our Triennial assessment of our Wellness Policy. The Parent Council is working on a community event to get parents and families connected, and the Diversity and Belonging committee is beginning work on the 2024 Festival of Cultures.  

As we head into a month of gratitude, I am incredibly grateful to be a part of such a strong community. Gemeinsam sind wir stark! Together we are strong. 

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, 

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Principal

Conference Dates:

• Monday, November 20th, 4-7:30: all meetings will be offered in-person and virtual (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)
• Tuesday, November 21st, 8:10-3:30: all meetings will be offered in-person and virtual (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)

You should have received a Constant Contact email with sign-up information on Wednesday, October 25 at 8pm CST (when the window opened); sign-up runs through Wednesday, November 8, 8pm CST. Please contact info@tcgis.org with questions.

Newly, this year there will be a choice to meet in person or via Google Meet on both days and for all time slots. Since Paragon doesn’t allow for this kind of flexibility, please indicate your preference with *in-person* vs. *virtual* next to your name or next to your student name(s). This can be done on the top right hand by your name when you login into Virtual Paragon.

LOG IN HERE TO SIGN UP

The master password is Wind2023

Please note: the sign up window closes on Wednesday, November 8 at 8pm.

For more information, please see the parent letter & parent overview.

Please contact the front office at info@tcgis.org with questions.

The Board of Directors are meeting tonight at 6:30 PM in Room 100. Your participation and involvement in the school community are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing important updates and decisions with you. You are invited to join us or to listen to the meeting via Zoom. Learn more about tonights meeting here.

All are welcome to attend this public meeting with the opportunity for public comment. Please RSVP to help in planning space and agenda timing. As always, messages can also be emailed to the Board.

Halloween Costume Guidelines

All students are welcome to wear costumes to school on Halloween Day although it is not required. Please keep in mind the following guidance from the TCGIS Dress Code in the Family Handbook:

• Articles of clothing shall comply with health & safety requirements
• Articles of clothing are not contrary to the School’s values
• Articles of clothing are not disruptive to the learning experience
• Students must be able to get into and out of their costumes without help during the day for bathroom use, recess, Sport, or other reasons.
• Most relevant to Halloween costumes: costumes may not include weapons. or masks that cover the entire face. Students will be asked to remove any costumes that do not adhere to these guidelines. 

Halloween Parade

Students will have a parade around the block and parents are invited! Parents may take photos, cheer, and otherwise celebrate our students as they parade around the block. All students will return to their classrooms before they leave for the day. Parents, please prep your students that they must return to the classroom. 

• Update PikMyKid if you change pickup type
• Parents may take photos in the playground area or along our parade route
• We ask our students to stay off private property and ask our parents to do the same
• Obey parking restrictions and cross streets safely at our crosswalks near the school 
• Keep sidewalks clear in the playground and around the block
• The parade is on a tight schedule and we are not able to stop for photos
• If you want individual photos, please opt for Walking Pickup and take your photos after school hours when you pick up your child at 3:15.

Front Office Closed 11- 4:00 on November 1

The front office will be closed for a retreat from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the professional development day on Wednesday, November 1. Kinderclub will still be available at 651-999-3707. Any messages for the office can be sent to info@tcgis.org. Thank you for your flexibility!

Kinderclub closed Monday November 6th

Kinderclub is closed on Monday, November 6th, for our Medical Training.

Please make sure Pikmykid is updated to the correct dismissal for that day! 

Parent Social & Orientation Night: Nov. 6th

The Parent Council is excited to launch our first ever Parent Social & Orientation Night on Monday, November 6. We want to bring parents together to get to know one another, learn more about the school and ways to get involved, and share strategies for parent success at TCGIS. Join us for some or all of this event, and please help us plan space by registering here. This event is for adults, but we hope to have child care available to enable more folks to join us!

• 5:30-6:30 Social hour and food truck*
• 6:30-7:15 All parent session
• 7:15-8:00 Choose your own adventure (booths) – connect with representatives from various parent-led groups within the school or groups that support parents and families

Social hour Food Truck details: Come out and enjoy some food from D&D Goodies along with other TCGIS parents!! (menu)

Two new fundraising events that involve the whole family!

On November 6th, TCGIS will be officially kicking off its annual week of giving!

Do you have extra Münzen (coins) lying around? Why not donate that loose change to TCGIS during our first TCGIS coin drive! The TCGIS Coin Drive, Münzen Matter, begins next week! Coins collected during the drive, November 6th - 17th, will support the TCGIS Annual Fund. Next Friday we’ll send home a paper bag with your child for your family to put any coin donation inside. Please send the bag back to TCGIS with your child so they can pour their donation into a jar in their homeroom or advisory. 

On November 9th, at our Martinstag Celebration, we will be hosting a Coat Drive where families are encouraged to bring in gently used coats to donate to Joseph's Coat. If you are unable to bring your coats to our event on the 9th, we will also be collecting them on Friday, the 10th. Thank you for participating in TCGIS’s Coats & Coins drive!

Please join us for our St. Martin’s Day celebration and traditional lantern parade starting at 5:30 on Thursday, November 9th! 

Click here for the full run-down!

• We will gather in the gym for a short performance of St. Martin’s Day music. 2nd grade and 4th grade will be performing, the TCGIS band will play, and middle schoolers will enact the story of St. Martin.
• Afterwards students can parade singing through the neighborhood around the school with lanterns! Grades K-3 are making lanterns in art class. If students in other grades want to carry lanterns, they will need to bring / make their own. (Just singing and walking is also fine. Lanterns are not a requirement - just fun!)  
• Frau Lenburg will have small lights for sale in the gym for anyone needing a light for their lantern. Please email her at alenburg@tcgis.org if interested in helping to sell the lights.
• After the lantern parade, enjoy treats from the Capstone Bake Sale in the cafeteria. Please note that all food must stay in the cafeteria or outside.

Fall Screening Results

We have just finished our fall school-wide screening. Students completed assessments specific to their grade level in reading, math, or both of these areas. In the next week, please keep a close eye on your email for your child's fall screening assessment scores. 

If you still have questions or concerns after reviewing the results, we encourage you to review this resource.

MS Families - Have you Heard of Discord?

Is Discord safe? How does messaging on Discord work? 

Our youth, especially our middle school students, are finding new ways to communicate with peers outside of school. One of those ways is via Discord, a popular chat app. We encourage all parents to read about Discord here, and to engage with your child about their online chatting practices. Questions can be referred to Catherine Radecki, Dean of Students, or Diana Erwin, School Social Worker. 

Parent Council October Update

The newly elected Parent Council (PC) met in-person and over zoom on Monday, October 9th. Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

We are looking for track-and-field coaches for our 5th-8th grade team for the winter season (December - March) and/or spring season (March - June). For more information, check out our website and our Athletics Handbook. We will begin reviewing candidates ASAP. With questions, email Athletic Director Tabisz ctabisz@tcgis.org

The Auction is open! You can check it out here - open until Friday November 3rd Happy Bidding!

Our amazing annual Trick or Treat event is coming up this Saturday! It's free and super fun - we'll be out on the playground 1 - 3 pm! Get those kids dressed up, grab a bag and we'll see you there! Sign up here!

Note: If you don't see the calendar at the end of your Rundbrief, the message has been clipped and you must click "View entire message" to read the entire Rundbrief. Danke!

Lost and Found Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help sort and organize the TCGIS Lost and Found throughout the year. Time commitment is flexible, you could volunteer to help for one week or many. It takes about 1 hour per week and we'd like to have 1-2 volunteers come in each week to keep the space tidy. If you can volunteer or would like more information, please email Parent Council.

Alumni Relations Subcommittee Member

The fundraising committee is looking for an Alumni Parent to volunteer as a Subcommittee Member to assist with Alumni related events and opportunities. We would appreciate a parents perspective and assistance during the implementation of these events and communications. If this is of interest to you, please reach out to Paige Yurczyk.

About the Board

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Twin Cities German Immersion School (TCGIS), a public charter school and non-profit organization. The Board hires the organization’s Executive Director, provides strategic direction, and monitors school operations and performance to ensure the school fulfills its mission and vision. Learn about your school board members here! 

Board Meeting: Thurs., Oct. 26 - 6:30PM; Room 100 or Zoom

Finance Meeting: Tues., Nov. 7 - 6:30PM; Zoom

Cmte of the Whole: Thur., Nov. 9 - 6:30PM; Room 100

Governance Meeting: Mon., Nov. 13 - 4:30PM; Google Meet

Diversity & Belonging Cmte: Tues., Nov. 14 - 6PM; Google Meet

Communication Meeting: Tues., Nov. 21 - 4PM; Zoom

Board Meeting: Thurs., Nov. 30 - 6:30PM; Room 100 or Zoom

GERMAN FILM Fritzi: Eine Wendewundergeschichte

When twelve-year-old Fritzi’s friend does not return from vacation, Fritzi and Sputnik, her friend’s dog, set out in search of her. Set in East Germany, this animated film retells the story of the 1989 peaceful revolution from a child’s perspective.

Part of the 2023 Twin Cities German Film Festival | Sunday, November 5 at 1:00 PM | The Main Cinema 

Check out the rest of the film fest lineup!

Tickets linked here!

The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one our school’s core values. Click here to learn about highlighted events!

In case of an emergency or sickness of your student we need to reach you in a timely manner, please make sure to update and check your information in Infinite campus: 

• Name, phone numbers, order of who should be called first. Please make sure your Voicemail is available in case you can’t answer the phone right away.

According to our General Student Illness Guidelines in our handbook:

”... ,if (a student is) too ill to remain at school, the Health Office will contact adult(s) in the order designated on the student’s Emergency Contact list (parents/guardians will be notified first) as soon as possible. Students are not allowed to call/text parents for pick up.

A parent, guardian, or other designated responsible adult must be available to pick up the student within one hour of phone call in the event of a serious illness or injury; this is for the health and safety of the student, as well as for the rest of the student body.”

We understand that this can be challenging for families, please plan for a backup plan if you are not able to pick up your student yourself. 

Oct. 26: Board Meeting 6:30 pm Room 100 or Zoom

Oct. 28: PTO Trick or Treat Event

Nov. 6: Parent Social and Orientation Night 5:30 -7:30 pm

Nov. 9: St. Martin's Day 5:30 pm



TCGIS Google Calendar